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Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol is the latest name to be added for the short-list of defensive options for Chelsea this summer.
The Blues have the need to replace both Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rüdiger, who are both joining Spanish clubs on free transfers. The Dane has agreed a move to Barcelona, whilst the German is headed to Real Madrid.
Now Gvardiol has been added to the wish list, and is seen as a good option to play on the left-side in Thomas Tuchel’s preferred system of a back three.
Gvardiol has been on the Chelsea radar since breaking through with Dinamo Zagreb. The 20year old has since moved to Germany with RB Leipzig, and has enjoyed an impressive first-season in the Bundesliga.
They have continued to monitor his progress, but he is one of many targets, with the club needing to sign at least two players to replace the departees.
However, because they continue top operate under restrictions until their ownership situation is resolved, their transfer plans for the summer are less advanced than most of their rivals.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.